SOTEU2025
Von der Leyen to propose 'package of measures' on Israel
After months of hedging on moving to crack down on Israel, von der Leyen says she'll now put forward a "package of measures to carve out a way forward".
This would include:
- stopping bilateral payments except for civil society
- sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers
- a partial suspension of the association agreement on trade-related matters
- set up a Palestine donor group for Gaza reconstruction
"I am aware it will be difficult to find majorities," she, however, concedes. "I know that any action will be too much for some. Too little for others."
EU foreign ministers meeting informally two weeks ago made attempts to confront their deep divisions over the bloc's response to Israel's war in Gaza, but sanctions remained a distant prospect.
EU foreign ministers meeting informally two weeks ago made attempts to confront their deep divisions over the bloc's response to Israel's war in Gaza, but sanctions remained a distant prospect.